One of Singapore's most advanced submarines declared battle-ready

The last of Singapore's most advanced submarines was declared battle-ready on Tuesday, sharpening the capabilities of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in underwater warfare.

The RSS Swordsman was commissioned, following more than two years of tests and torpedo-firing exercises in Sweden and in the warmer and more corrosive waters here. The 60.5m diesel-electric vessel arrived in Singapore in last December. This is the second Archer-class vessel to be added to the RSN's 171 Squadron, after the first, RSS Archer, was declared operational in 2011. The submarine squadron also comprises four ageing Challenger-class submarines.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was at the ceremony in Changi Naval Base, said the new vessel will strengthen the navy's ability to safeguard Singapore's "continued and unimpeded access to the maritime routes".

He noted that Tuesday's ceremony also marked the end of the RSN's eight year journey to replace some of the Challenger-class submarines, which were built in the 1960s.

RSN Conducts Successful Missile Firing

The upgraded RSN missile corvette RSS Victory conducting the live-firing of Barak anti-missile missile during Exercise CARAT 2012.

 Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Ng Chee Peng (right), Fleet Commander RADM Lai Chung Han (centre) and USN Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific RADM Thomas F. Carney (left) witnessing the successful live-firing of Barak missile.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) conducted a live-firing of the Barak anti-missile missile in the South China Sea earlier today as part of the 18th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise which Singapore is conducting with the United States. The missile was fired by the upgraded RSN missile corvette RSS Victory against an air drone target simulating an attacking profile. The target was successfully destroyed.

Commanding Officer RSS Victory Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Eric Tan Wei Hong said that the exercise was professionally valuable to both the RSN and the United States Navy. "The CARAT exercise allows personnel from both navies to work and interact closely with each other and this has also deepened our friendship and mutual understanding", said LTC Tan.  Commenting on the success of the missile firing, Weapon Systems (Control) Supervisor Military Expert 2 Jeyabal Sundaraju, who fired the Barak missile said, "the realism and tempo of the exercise has been a fruitful experience for me and my team onboard RSS Victory. Our training and preparation ensured that we were ready and we are glad that we have hit the target and achieved mission success."

The firing was witnessed by Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng. Similar missile firings have been conducted in previous CARAT exercises. The exercise is presently ongoing and will conclude on 27 Jul 2012.